A shooting incident occurred at Pasadena Memorial High School during a Texas Color Guard Circuit percussion competition, leaving one man injured and an elderly gunman in custody. Click2Houston reports that the suspect, identified as an elderly man, fired a small-caliber handgun in the event's vicinity. A Good Samaritan, alongside an off-duty Houston police officer and other attendees, managed to quickly tackle and disarm the individual, effectively preventing further violence.
The victim, a technical consultant with Angleton High School's percussion band, was shot in the shoulder but remained conscious and is currently in stable condition. In a statement obtained by KHOU, Angleton ISD confirmed that all of their 43 students and band directors present at the competition have been accounted for and returned home without further incident. The district will be providing counselors to support the students impacted by the shooting.
Following the event, Pasadena Independent School District (ISD) announced that they would provide crisis counseling and implement additional security at campuses the following week. "The shooter was not affiliated with the band contest, and it is currently under investigation why he was on campus," said the Pasadena ISD's statement. The security measures included bulletproof film on the windows and doors, which according to Art Del Barrio, the Pasadena ISD Director of Communications, was effective in preventing further harm, according to Click2Houston.
The Pasadena Police Department has taken the lead on the ongoing investigation with assistance from the Pasadena ISD Police. Authorities are currently working to ascertain the motive behind the shooting, emphasizing that it does not appear to have been a targeted attack. Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia expressed his gratitude for the timely intervention by the off-duty officer and the parent who tackled the shooter, as told in a statement published by KHOU. "No young person should have to deal with this while participating in a band event," Garcia stated.
As the investigation continues, additional details are expected to be released regarding the circumstances surrounding the disruption of the high school competition.
